The society that developed in London's suburbs during the nineteenthcentury is considered a prcxluct of two sets of forces: rapid population growth, occasioned by much imnigrationj and the spatial sorting of households into distinctive social areas, mainly along social class lines. The study is divided into two parts. In Part One the expansion of two South London suburbs, Deptford and LaNisham, during the period 1836- 71, provides the focus for an evaluation of the relative importance of various migrant groups entering the study area. Whilst an intra-urban component is revealed to be of greater importance than imnigration from the countryside and abroad, attention is drawn to the strong lateral movement of families moving into the area fron other London suburbs. However, it is argued that for the historical geographer to simply quantify each migrant source is inadequate, and an attempt is consequently made to consider the significance of each migrant group within the wider context of contemporary social and econanic issues. Part Two of the ~rk explores the spatial patterns of the Victorian suburb with reference to the main constructs of u:rban/subu:rban society. Special importance is attached to divisions based upon social class, and the changing distribution of differing social classes is described. Explanation of the distributions observed is based upon a theory of spatial constraints: incane (and expenditure priorities), the relationship between home and ~rkplace (including corrmuting facilities and the special effects of occupation), and the poliCies of landholders in influencing the quality of new housing developnents, are factors considered as having influenced the distribution of social classes byimposing constraints of varying force upon residential choice. Consideration is next given to those societal dimensions of lesser :importance, and finds a focus in a review of the family and household itself. Particularly r:;ertinent is the geographical analysis of household type, the family life cycle, and dorrestic service. Sane special minority groups in suburban society: the elderly, the widowed, lone parent households, and the young adult, are given separate treabnenti and a case study of household persistence and turnover concludes a comprehensive review of the social geography of the Victorian suburb